OHHS Art and Design Student Competing in the Inaugural Ohio JESA Competition
The Juried Exhibition of Student Art (JESA) has been one of the most far-reaching multi-disciplinary art projects for students in grades one through twelve in Indiana since 1986. Held in conjunction with the prestigious International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, this dynamic educational program integrates the performing, literary, and visual arts, encouraging students to explore the connection between music and creative expression. In 2022 alone, JESA engaged more than 21,000 students and 151 art teachers from 57 counties across the state of Indiana. The program is unique in that it awards cash prizes not only to the student Grand Award Winners, but to their schools or sponsoring organizations as well, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting arts education at every level.
New for 2026, JESA has expanded into Ohio for the very first time! Thanks to the generosity of the Ohio-based Cynthia P. Matthews Family Foundation, students and schools in both Indiana and Ohio will each receive $18,000 in prizes per state. Thirty Streeter Hadley Matthews Grand Award Winners will be selected in each state, and their artwork will be displayed during the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis from September 17th through October 4th, 2026. Following the competition, each winning artist’s work will be exhibited within their home state for a period of three years.
Best of luck to OHHS Art and Design student, Lily McGuire, who is competing in this year’s exhibition! Lily’s entry, “The Melody of the Soul Contained,” beautifully embodies JESA’s mission by celebrating creativity, fostering interdisciplinary learning, and highlighting the powerful connection between music and visual art.
